Honda had 20 years to hone the mad Civic Type R

The nameplate is new to North America but enthusiasts have been hooning this hot compact in Europe and Asia since 1997

by
Ronan Glon, Driving | August 28, 2017

Small

Medium

Large

The reviews are unanimous: the 2017 Honda Civic Type R is one of the very best performance cars of the year. The nameplate is brand-new in North America, but it has been around in other parts of the globe for the past two decades. Honda has had plenty of time to fine-tune the breed’s natural talents. Join us as we explore the Type R’s evolution.

First generation (1997 – 2000)

First generation Honda Civic Type R, 1997-2000

Honda

First generation Honda Civic Type R, 1997-2000

Honda

First generation Honda Civic Type R, 1997-2000

Honda

Introduced in Japan in 1997, the original Civic Type R was Honda’s answer to the already-emblematic Volkswagen Golf GTI. It received a naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that sent 185 horsepower – generated at no less than 8,200 rpm! – to the front wheels through a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. If that doesn’t sound like much, keep in mind the first Civic Type R tipped the scale at under 1,100 kilograms.

The visual differences between the garden-variety Civic hatchback and the Type R were relatively minor. Enthusiasts with a well-trained eye could point out a model-specific body kit that included a roof-mounted spoiler, red Honda emblems, a sprinkling of Type R badges, and seven-spoke alloy wheels inspired by the ones fitted to the bigger Integra Type R. Invisible to the naked eye was a monocoque chassis seam-welded to improve rigidity.

Honda’s first Civic Type R was sold exclusively in Japan, and it was only offered as a three-door hatchback.

Second generation (2001 – 2006)

Second generation Honda Civic Type R, 2001-2006

Honda

Second generation Honda Civic Type R, 2001-2006

Honda

Second generation Honda Civic Type R, 2001-2006

Honda

European enthusiasts quickly caught wind of the Civic Type R that tore up tracks in Japan and demanded a market-specific version of it. Honda responded by designing a new generation of its vaunted hot hatch specifically for the British market, which has always had a seemingly insatiable appetite for light, powerful hot hatches. It was built locally, and exported to a handful of countries including Japan.

Like its predecessor, the second-generation Civic Type R received a complete body kit as well as discreet red accents and red Honda emblems on both ends. These visual attributes continue to define the performance Civic today. A naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder tweaked to 200 horsepower lived in the engine bay. The transmission was a six-speed manual that spun the front wheels.

Third generation (2006 – 2011)

For its third installment, the Civic Type R was split into two distinctly different models developed for Europe and Japan, respectively.

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, European version 2006-2011

Honda

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, European version 2006-2011

Honda

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, European version 2006-2011

Honda

The European version was based on the so-called spaceship Civic built in Swindon, England. Offered only as a three-door hatchback, it used an evolution of its predecessor’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It made 201 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and 142 pound-feet of torque at 5,600 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission channeled the engine’s output to the front wheels – notice a pattern? This Type R came with more creature comforts than the last, but it nonetheless managed to hit 100 km/h from a stop in approximately 6.6 seconds.

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, Japanese version 2006-2011

Honda

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, Japanese version 2006-2011

Honda

Third generation Honda Civic Type R, Japanese version 2006-2011

Honda

In Japan, the Type R adopted a four-door body style for the first time in the nameplate’s history. That made it heavier and bigger than its predecessor, which might explain why it was a little bit more powerful than the European version. The VTEC four’s output was pegged at 220 horsepower and 159 pound-feet of torque in its most basic configuration. In the looks department, the sedan stood out with a rear wing that could double as a bench in Toronto’s High Park.

Fourth generation (2015 – 2017)

Fourth generation Honda Civic Type R, 2015-2017

Honda

Fourth generation Honda Civic Type R, 2015-2017

Honda

Fourth generation Honda Civic Type R, 2015-2017

Honda

To the delight of power-hungry enthusiasts, the rumors that claimed the Civic Type R would receive a significant steroid injection for its fourth generation were spot on. Introduced at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show, the then-new model used turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder tuned to pump out 300 horsepower. Adding a turbo propelled the hatchback out of the Golf GTI’s segment and right onto the turf contested by the Golf R and the Subaru WRX STI.

Honda resisted the urge to follow its rivals’ lead into the world of four-wheel drive hot hatches. Instead, it applied its suspension wizardry to the Civic and added two additional kingpins up front to reduce torque steer. The 2015 Type R also inaugurated a driving mode named +R, which increased the engine’s responsiveness and altered the torque mapping for improved performance.

The fourth-generation Type R lapped Germany’s challenging Nürburgring track in 7m 50.63s, setting a new record for a series-produced front-wheel drive car. It started a war with Renault, Volkswagen, and Spain-based SEAT that rages on to this day.

Fifth generation (2017 – present)

Fifth generation 2017 Civic Type R

Honda

Fifth generation 2017 Civic Type R

Honda

Fifth generation 2017 Civic Type R

Honda

As previously mentioned, the latest and greatest Type R is also the first one that’s gone global. Built in England and distributed worldwide, the hooligan Honda again boasts a turbocharged 2.0-liter that spins the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. It makes 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque this time around, which is enough to send the hatchback from zero to 100 km/h in about five seconds.

For Honda, the newest one-size-fits-all Type R is a blank slate. The company wanted to launch it on North American soil in the same configuration that has earned it a permanent spot in the heart of overseas enthusiasts for the past 20 years. However, insiders suggest Honda is looking at expanding the lineup with an all-wheel drive model and a softer, more affordable version, among other options.